West Virginia: West Virginia’s new bishop on Tuesday called for his predecessor, Michael Bransfield, to pay the diocese $792,638, apologize to victims and to the diocese, and lose his place in the diocesan cemetery as part of a restitution package for alleged financial and sexual misconduct; that some church experts say is a first for a bishop.
The announcement by Bishop Mark Brennan follows a statement in July by Pope Francis that Bransfield’s replacement should decide how the ousted leader “make personal amends.”
“I wish to make clear that it is not my intention to impoverish the former bishop,” wrote Brennan, saying the dollar figure isn’t exactly the amount of diocesan money Bransfield is accused of misspending or using for lavish personal expenses. “We regard the former bishop’s acceptance of this plan of amends as an act of restorative justice. It is also for his own spiritual good and his own healing as a man who professes to follow Christ. All proceeds from Bishop Bransfield’s repayment will be directed to a special fund to provide for the counseling, care, and support of those who have suffered sexual abuse.”
Bransfield stepped down in September 2018 amid allegations he misused church money and sexually harassed seminarians and young priests, claims that he has denied. Reached late Tuesday, he declined to comment, except to say he wasn’t expecting Brennan’s announcement. “I’m just absolutely shocked this happened today.”
An internal church report obtained by The Washington Post earlier this year found that during his 13 years as leader of the West Virginia church, Bransfield spent millions of dollars of diocese money on extravagances, including travel on chartered jets, lavish furnishings at his official residence and nearly 600 cash gifts to fellow clergymen.
Brennan, who was named earlier this fall as bishop, on Tuesday afternoon issued a nine-point list of amends that requires Bransfield to:
- Pay $792,638 to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and another $110,000 to the IRS for taxes that the diocese says should have been paid on personal spending.
- Lose the normal retirement package for bishops and instead get the monthly stipend of a retired priest who had worked 13 years, which equals $736 per month.
- Be responsible for his own long-term health care, pharmacy and disability benefits.
- Lose the right to be buried in the diocesan cemetery.
- Issue apologies to the diocese staff, Catholics of the diocese and those he allegedly sexually harassed “for the severe emotional and spiritual harm his actions caused.”
